The Season Of Sharing

Please excuse me if this is rambling....................


Through all of the hustle and bustle of lists and finding the "right" gift for him or her; the holiday card sending and receiving; the picking and then trimming the tree, I feel the need to bring your attention to another group of people.

In America alone, there are tens of thousands of people suffering from Depression and unable to join in the Christmas joy. Whether their "holiday blues" are from depression, a sick or a loss of a loved one, loneliness, or a combination of these, the result is the same.

The sad thing about it is that many of these people are around you, possibly every day. It could be a family member, a coworker, or even a friend. This condition is generally masked to others. They don't want to ruin anybody else's holiday by telling them something like - it takes all of their energy simply to get out of bed each day and sometimes can't even manage that. At that point, they may say they are sick or not feeling well. if you wish them holiday cheer they will respond in kind and try to manage a smile or a lilt in their voice. However, when the door is shut, or the phone hung up, the sobbing begins and seems everlasting.

They are silently counting down the days until the whole thing is over and they can get back to their lives in the new year.

With Depression, comes an extremely low opinion of self. This makes it nearly impossible to believe that there are people who truly care about them. Their reality is that there are not people who care or love them because they do not deserve it. If problems arise, they often don't seek help because they don't think they are worthy of help. Often the only solution, what they pray for, is death; so that the devastating pain will finally be gone.

If you pay attention, you may find someone that has the symptoms. My advice is to not confront them (they will deny it) but simply show them love. Maybe call, email, or stop by more often. Give compliments, tell people they are appreciated and why. Say I LOVE YOU!

After all this is the season of sharing, what better to share than love?

Hi,


Gloria I havn't been in the Christmas spirit for years..I just go with the flow and am happy when it's all over with to be quite honest

When my kids were small I used to love it and now that they're older (23 & 21) I just couldn't be bothered..although I do a Christmas Dinner but not on Christmas Day, usually New Years..

Depression in all it's forms is not fun to deal with whether you're the one suffering from it or are a family member/friend of someone who suffers with it..

I find sometimes even the words I love you sound empty..but they are nice to hear..

I have never thought of death as an escape as I couldn't hurt the ones that I love..plus I'm too nosey and want to know what everyone is up to..lol..

My wish is if any Crusher or anyone for that matter is dealing with this to know that you are very loved by many and that people do care about you whether you realize it or not ..

So with that Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all..

I Love & Appreciate You..


Hugs,

Sarah

p.s I know this is a bit revealing for me but I want others to know they're not alone..

nicely said you two.very touching

HUGS

Thank you for sharing Sarah........now I appreciate all of the work you put intothe contests even more!!

I hesitated before posting about depression. It was a difficult because, as you may have guessed, I am one of "them". Then I thought that there must be others and it really does feel better knowing I'm not alone.

There are A LOT of people who need extra love during this season!

Hi Gloria i just want to say thankyou so much for your post...i also am one of "them" and reading this post had me in tears because its such a lonely place to be in when you have depression..and to read that?..it just made me full of admiration for you...here's hoping that we all will have a truly loving and wonderful christmas...thankyou xx